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Residents urged to prepare for heightened fire conditions

October 28, 2014

Below is a media release from the Rural Fire Service Queensland (RFSQ) about the increased fire risk due to the current high temperatures.

With hot, dry conditions continuing and strong gusty winds and lighting storms across the state, the Rural Fire Service Queensland (RFSQ) is urging Queenslanders to be vigilant with heightened fire conditions predicted over the next few days.

RFSQ Assistant Commissioner Neil Gallant said high and very high fire danger had been forecast across the state, with severe fire danger forecast for Darling Downs and Granite Belt area.

“Dry lightning strikes have caused a number of recent fires and residents should be on the lookout for vegetation fires that may have sparked in remote bushland or grassland,” he said.

“Warm temperatures combined with low humidity and strong winds make conditions perfect for fires to spark and spread quickly.”

Mr Gallant said residents should be on the lookout for vegetation fires that may have started as a result of lightning strikes in remote bushland or grasslands, and should call Triple Zero (000) to report any fire activity.

“These conditions also make it difficult to contain vegetation fires, so we’re asking residents to take extra care and be alert.”

Mr Gallant said landowners who had conducted hazard reduction burns recently were strongly encouraged to take immediate steps to ensure their fire had been properly extinguished.

“Landowners who have conducted burns are also asked to make sure residual fires are contained so that they will not escape,” he said.

Mr Gallant said with fire activity ramping up across the State, it was crucial for residents to make sure they were doing all they could to prepare their homes and properties.

“If they haven’t already, I urge residents to finalise preparations on their property and visit the Rural Fire Service Queensland website to download a bushfire survival plan so that no one is caught off guard,” he said.

“We are also asking people to ensure they do not throw cigarette butts out of the car window and be careful when operating machinery in grassed areas.”